It is clear that in terms of utility (cost/efficiency), the planned standards concerning protection from side impacts (the so-called global test procedure: collision between a mobile deformable barrier and a vehicle at 50 km/h. which can be replaced by a "composite test procedure" as at present under study by European car makers) appears of secondary importance by comparison with new initiatives which could be adopted concerning frontal impacts. (1)
What results can be expected from the planned "side impact" standards?
Based on the main characteristics of fatal accidents involving car occupants which occuned in France in the second quafler of 1980, and the accidentological data of the Laboratory of Physiology and Biomechanics associated with Peugeot SA/Renault, one observes that the planned impact speed, 50 km/h, which corresponds to a "mean" velocity change (delta V) of 25 km/h for the impacted car, only covers approximately 10% ofdeaths and 30% ofsevere injuries in the category of occupants exposed to intrusion in car-to-cars ide collisions. As a consequencet,h e standard being prepared will no doubt lead to the adoption of provisions which will reduce the number of severe injuries, without having a very significant influence on the number of deaths.
Our evaluations show that the potential number of severe injuries concerned is less than 2.5% of all severe injuries (all types of impact taken together), the potential number of fatalities concerned being less than lolo of all fatal casualties.